Compressor

ABSTRACT

[Object of the Invention] The object of the present invention is to provide a compressor comprising a scroll compressing mechanism provided with a fixed scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and a movable scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and meshing with the fixed scroll to form a plurality of operation chambers between them, and a housing accommodating the scroll compressing mechanism, wherein the housing cooperates with the end plate of the fixed scroll to form a discharge passage communicating with the scroll compressing mechanism and a discharge port connected to the higher pressure side portion of an external coolant circuit, the discharge passage is provided with a first discharge chamber opposing the center portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, an oil separation chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, and a second discharge chamber communicating with the oil separation chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, characterized in that the compressor comprises means for placing the discharge port into communication with the second discharge chamber independently of the location of the discharge port. 
     [Disclosure of the Invention] A compressor comprises a scroll compressing mechanism provided with a fixed scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and a movable scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and meshing with the fixed scroll to form a plurality of operation chambers between them, and a housing accommodating the scroll compressing mechanism. The housing cooperates with the end plate of the fixed scroll to form a discharge passage communicating with the scroll compressing mechanism and a discharge port connected to the higher pressure side portion of an external coolant circuit. The discharge passage is provided with a first discharge chamber opposing the center portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, an oil separation chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, and a second discharge chamber communicating with the oil separation chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll. A through hole is formed in the housing to extend from the outer surface of the housing to the second discharge chamber through the discharge port, thereby placing the discharge port into communication with the second discharge chamber. A closing member is disposed to close the end of the through hole on the side of the outer surface of the housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a compressor comprising a scroll compressing mechanism provided with a fixed scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and a movable scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and meshing with the fixed scroll to form a plurality of operation chambers between them, and a housing accommodating the scroll compressing mechanism, wherein the housing cooperates with the end plate of the fixed scroll to form a discharge passage communicating with the scroll compressing mechanism and a discharge port connected to the higher pressure side portion of an external coolant circuit, the discharge passage is provided with a first discharge chamber opposing the center portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, an oil separation chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, and a second discharge chamber communicating with the oil separation chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll.

BACKGROUND ART

The applicant of the present application proposed in the patent document No. 1 a compressor comprising a scroll compressing mechanism provided with a fixed scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and a movable scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and meshing with the fixed scroll to form a plurality of operation chambers between them, and a housing accommodating the scroll compressing mechanism, wherein the housing cooperates with the end plate of the fixed scroll to form a discharge passage communicating with the scroll compressing mechanism and a discharge port connected to the higher pressure side portion of an external coolant circuit, the discharge passage is provided with a first discharge chamber opposing the center portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, an oil separation chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, and a second discharge chamber communicating with the oil separation chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll.

In the aforementioned compressor, discharge gas from the scroll compressing mechanism enters into the oil separation chamber through the first discharge chamber, forms a spiral flow in the oil separation chamber to become free from oil mists dispersing and floating in the discharge gas, enters into the second discharge chamber, and discharges from the compressor through the discharge port.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent document No. 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-082238

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved

The compressor of the patent document No. 1 is disposed in the engine room or the like of a passenger car with the driving shaft of the scroll compressing mechanism extending horizontally, and the second discharge chamber located on the highest position of the discharge passage. One of the mounting eyes of the compressor of the patent document No. 1 is disposed immediately above the second discharge chamber located on the highest position of the discharge passage because the compressor of the patent document No. 1 is disposed horizontally and the discharge passage is located at one end of the housing as described above. Therefore, it is difficult to dispose the discharge port immediately above the second discharge chamber and it is necessary to relocate the discharge port from the position immediately above the second discharge chamber. When the discharge port is relocated from the position immediately above the second discharge chamber, it becomes difficult to place the discharge port into direct communication with the second discharge chamber.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a compressor comprising a scroll compressing mechanism provided with a fixed scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and a movable scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and meshing with the fixed scroll to form a plurality of operation chambers between them, and a housing accommodating the scroll compressing mechanism, wherein the housing cooperates with the end plate of the fixed scroll to form a discharge passage communicating with the scroll compressing mechanism and a discharge port connected to the higher pressure side portion of an external coolant circuit, the discharge passage is provided with a first discharge chamber opposing the center portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, an oil separation chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, and a second discharge chamber communicating with the oil separation chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, characterized in that the compressor comprises means for placing the discharge port into communication with the second discharge chamber independently of the location of the discharge port.

Means for Achieving the Object

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a compressor comprising a scroll compressing mechanism provided with a fixed scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and a movable scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and meshing with the fixed scroll to form a plurality of operation chambers between them, and a housing accommodating the scroll compressing mechanism, wherein the housing cooperates with the end plate of the fixed scroll to form a discharge passage communicating with the scroll compressing mechanism and a discharge port connected to the higher pressure side portion of an external coolant circuit, the discharge passage is provided with a first discharge chamber opposing the center portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, an oil separation chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, and a second discharge chamber communicating with the oil separation chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, a through hole is formed in the housing to extend from the outer surface of the housing to the second discharge chamber through the discharge port, thereby placing the discharge port into communication with the second discharge chamber, and a closing member is disposed to close the end of the through hole on the side of the outer surface of the housing.

When the through hole is formed in the housing to extend from the outer surface of the housing to the second discharge chamber through the discharge port, it becomes possible to place the discharge port into communication with the second discharge chamber independently of the location of the discharge port.

The end of the through hole on the side of the outer surface of the housing may be closed by a seal bolt. In the case where a relief valve is disposed in the compressor to discharge the coolant gas to the external environment when the pressure of the coolant gas discharged from the compressing mechanism exceeds a predetermined level, the through hole may be closed by the relief valve.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a compressor comprising a scroll compressing mechanism provided with a fixed scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and a movable scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and meshing with the fixed scroll to form a plurality of operation chambers between them, and a housing accommodating the scroll compressing mechanism, wherein the housing cooperates with the end plate of the fixed scroll to form a discharge passage communicating with the scroll compressing mechanism and a discharge port connected to the higher pressure side portion of an external coolant circuit, the discharge passage is provided with a first discharge chamber opposing the center portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, an oil separation chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, and a second discharge chamber communicating with the oil separation chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, characterized in that the compressor comprises means for placing the discharge port into communication with the second discharge chamber independently of the location of the discharge port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the compressor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the structural members of the compressor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the compressor in accordance with a variation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A compressor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, a scroll compressor A is provided with a fixed scroll 1 having an end plate 1 a and a scroll body 1 b and a movable scroll 2 having an end plate 2 a and a scroll body 2 b. The scroll bodies 1 b and 2 b mesh with each other to form a plurality of operation chambers 3 between them. The end plate 1 a of the fixed scroll 1 is provided with a discharge hole 1 c at its center. The discharge hole 1 c is opened and closed by a discharge valve connected to the end plate 1 a. The discharge valve is not shown in FIG. 1.

The scroll compressor A is also provided with a casing 4 of cylindrical shape closed at one end and a front housing 5 of cylindrical shape closed at one end. The casing 4 and the front housing 5 are united with each other to form a housing 6 of cylindrical shape. The housing 6 accommodates the fixed scroll 1 and the movable scroll 2.

The end plate 1 a of the fixed scroll 1 fits in the cylindrical portion of the casing 4 and is fixed to the bottom plate of the casing 4 with a plurality of fixing bolts 7. The interfitting portion between the end plate 1 a and the casing 4 is sealed by an O-ring.

A main shaft 8 extends through the front housing 5. The main shaft 8 is operatively connected to an external power source not shown in FIG. 1 through an electromagnetic clutch 9 at one end. An eccentric pin 10 is fixed to the other end of the main shaft 8. A bush 11 slidably fits on the eccentric pin 10. The bush 11 is accommodated in a boss 2 c formed in the rear surface of the end plate 2 a of the movable scroll 2 through a radial bearing.

A ball coupling 12 is disposed between the movable scroll 2 and the front housing 5.

The main shaft 8, the eccentric pin 10, the bush 11, the ball coupling 12, the movable scroll 2 and the fixed scroll 1 cooperate to form a compressing mechanism.

The front housing 5 cooperates with the end plate 1 a of the fixed scroll and the cylindrical portion of the casing 4 to form a suction passage extending from a suction port 13 formed in the cylindrical portion of the casing 4 to the outer peripheral portion of the scroll body 2 b of the movable scroll. The suction port 13 is connected to the lower pressure side portion of the external coolant circuit.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the casing 4 is provided with a first recess 4 a at the center portion of the inner surface of the bottom plate, an elongated second recess 4 b shallower than the first recess 4 a at the outer peripheral portion of the inner surface of the bottom plate, a third recess 4 c deeper than the second recess 4 b, communicating with the second recess 4 b and adjacent to the first recess 4 a at the outer peripheral portion of the inner surface of the bottom plate, and an elongated fourth recess 4 d deeper than the second recess 4 b, adjacent to the second recess 4 b and the first recess 4 a at the outer peripheral portion of the inner surface of the bottom plate. Narrow communication recesses 4 e are formed in the top portion of the separation wall between the first recess 4 a and the second recess 4 b to place the first recess 4 a into communication with the second recess 4 b.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end face of the end plate 1 a of the fixed scroll 1 opposing the bottom plate of the casing 4 is provided with a first recess 1 aa at the center portion, an elongated second recess 1 ab at the outer peripheral portion, a third recess 1 ac communicating with the second recess 1 ab and adjacent to the first recess 1 aa at the outer peripheral portion, and an elongated fourth recess 1 ad adjacent to the second recess 1 ab and the first recess 1 aa at the outer peripheral portion.

As is clear from the two-way arrows in FIG. 2, the remainder of the end face of the end plate 1 a of the fixed scroll 1 other than the aforementioned recesses abuts the remainder of the inner surface of the bottom plate of the casing 4 other than the aforementioned recesses with through holes formed in the casing 4 to accept the fixing bolts opposing threaded holes formed in the end plate 1 a of the fixed scroll to screw-engage the fixing bolts.

The first recess 4 a cooperates with the first recess 1 aa to form a first discharge chamber 14, the second recess 4 b cooperates with the second recess 1 ab to form an oil separation chamber 15, the remainder of the end face of the end plate 1 a of the fixed scroll opposing the bottom plate of the casing 4 other than the aforementioned recesses cooperates with the communication recesses 4 e to form discharge gas inlet holes 16, the third recess 4 c cooperates with the third recess 1 ac to form an oil reservoir 17, and the fourth recess 4 d cooperates with the fourth recess 1 ad to form a second discharge chamber 18. The fourth recess 1 ad places the oil separation chamber 15 into communication with the second discharge chamber 18. The second discharge chamber 18 communicates with a discharge port 19 formed in the casing 4. The discharge port 19 is connected to the higher pressure side portion of the external coolant circuit. The oil separation chamber 15 communicates with the oil reservoir 17.

The first discharge chamber 14, the discharge gas inlet holes 16, the oil separation chamber 15, the communication passage between the oil separation chamber 15 and the second discharge chamber 18 formed by the fourth recess 1 ad, and the second discharge chamber 18 cooperate to form a discharge passage communicating with the compressing mechanism and the discharge port 19 connected to the higher pressure side portion of the external coolant circuit.

The scroll compressor A is disposed in the engine room of a passenger car to be used with the main shaft 8 extending horizontally, the compressing mechanism being located below the suction port 13, the second discharge chamber 18 being located below the discharge port 19, the oil separation chamber 15 being located below the second discharge chamber 18, the first discharge chamber 14 being located at the same height level as the oil separation chamber 15, and the oil reservoir 17 being located below the oil separation chamber 15 and the first discharge chamber 14.

As aforementioned, the scroll compressor A is disposed horizontally and the discharge passage is located at one longitudinal end of the housing 6. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, one of the mounting eyes 20 of the compressor is disposed immediately above the second discharge chamber 18 located on the highest position of the discharge passage. The presence of the mounting eye 20 of the compressor makes it difficult to dispose the discharge port 19 immediately above the second discharge chamber 18, and thereby places the discharge port 19 into direct communication with the second discharge chamber 18. Therefore, the highest portion of the bottom plate of the casing 4 is projected in the longitudinal direction of the casing 4 as shown in FIG. 1, or the highest portion of the bottom plate of the casing 4 is projected in the radial direction of the casing 4 as shown in FIG. 3, and the discharge port 19 is disposed in the projecting portion. Therefore, the discharge port 19 is no more located immediately above the second discharge port 18 and it is impossible to place the discharge port 19 into direct communication with the second discharge chamber 18. Therefore, a through hole 21 is formed in the casing 4 to extend from the outer surface of the longitudinal projection of the highest portion of the bottom plate of the casing 4 as shown in FIG. 1 or the outer surface of the radial projection of the highest portion of the bottom plate of the casing 4 as shown in FIG. 3 to the second discharge chamber 18 through the lower end portion of the discharge port 19, thereby placing the discharge port 19 into communication with the second discharge chamber 18. The end of the through hole 21 on the side of the outer surface of the housing 4 is closed by a relief valve 22 for discharging the coolant gas to the external environment when the pressure of the coolant gas discharging from the compressing mechanism exceeds a predetermined level. A seal bolt may be used for closing the end of the through hole 21 on the side of the outer surface of the housing 4 instead of the relief valve 22.

In the scroll compressor A in accordance with the present preferred embodiment, driving power of the external power source is transmitted to one end of the main shaft 8 through the electromagnetic clutch 9 to rotate the main shaft 8. Rotation of the main shaft 8 is converted to orbital motion by the eccentric pin 10 and the bush 11 to be transmitted to the movable scroll 2. Thus, the movable scroll 2 orbits. Coolant gas is sucked from the lower pressure side portion of the external coolant circuit into a portion of the internal space of the casing 4 near the outer peripheral portion of the scroll body 2 b through the suction port 13 and the suction passage. The coolant gas is sucked into one of the pairs of operation chambers 3 formed by the scroll bodies 1 b and 2 b. The movable scroll 2 is prevented from rotation by the ball coupling 12.

The pair of operation chambers 3 moves toward the center of the fixed scroll 1, while decreasing their volumes, to compress the coolant gas in the pair of operation chambers 3. Highly pressurized coolant gas discharges into the first discharge chamber 14 through the discharge hole 1 c formed in the end plate 1 a of the fixed scroll 1 and the discharge valve. The highly pressurized coolant gas flows from the first discharge chamber 14 into the oil separation chamber 15 through the discharge gas inlet holes 16. The coolant gas flows into the oil separation chamber 15 tangentially to the cross section of the oil separation chamber 15, spirally flows in the separation chamber 15, flows into the second discharge chamber 18 through the communication passage formed by the recess 1 ad, and discharges into the high pressure side portion of the external coolant circuit through the discharge port 19.

When the highly pressurized coolant gas spirally flows in the oil separation chamber 15 toward the second discharge chamber 18, centrifugal force acts on oil mists dispersing and floating in the coolant gas to separate them from the coolant gas, thereby making them adhere to the circumferential side wall of the oil separation chamber 15. The oil mists adhered to the circumferential side wall of the oil separation chamber 15 flow down to the bottom of the oil separation chamber 15, while forming liquid-drops, to be accumulated in the oil reservoir 17 communicating with the oil separation chamber 15. The oil accumulated in the oil reservoir 17 is returned to the lower portion of the suction passage through an oil passage formed in the end plate 1 a and the scroll body 1 b of the fixed scroll 1 to lubricate various sliding parts of the compressing mechanism.

In the scroll compressor A in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge port 19 can be placed into communication with the second discharge chamber 18 independently of the location of the discharge port 19 as the through hole 21 is formed in the casing 4 to extend from the outer surface of the casing 4 to the second discharge chamber 18 through the discharge port 19, thereby placing the discharge port 19 into communication with the second discharge chamber 18.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Fixed scroll -   1 a End plate -   1 aa First recess -   1 ab Second recess -   1 ac Third recess -   1 ad Fourth recess -   1 b Scroll body -   1 c Discharge hole -   2 Movable scroll -   2 a End plate -   2 b Scroll body -   4 Casing -   4 a First recess -   4 b Second recess -   4 c Third recess -   4 d Fourth recess -   4 e Communication recess -   5 Front housing -   6 Housing -   13 Suction port -   14 First discharge chamber -   15 Oil separation chamber -   17 Oil reservoir -   18 Second discharge chamber -   19 Discharge port -   20 Mounting eye -   21 Through hole -   22 Relief valve 

1. A compressor comprising a scroll compressing mechanism provided with a fixed scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and a movable scroll having an end plate and a scroll body projecting from the end plate and meshing with the fixed scroll to form a plurality of operation chambers between them, and a housing accommodating the scroll compressing mechanism, wherein the housing cooperates with the end plate of the fixed scroll to form a discharge passage communicating with the scroll compressing mechanism and a discharge port connected to the higher pressure side portion of an external coolant circuit, the discharge passage is provided with a first discharge chamber opposing the center portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, an oil separation chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, and a second discharge chamber communicating with the oil separation chamber and opposing the outer peripheral portion of the end plate of the fixed scroll, a through hole is formed in the housing to extend from the outer surface of the housing to the second discharge chamber through the discharge port, thereby placing the discharge port into communication with the second discharge chamber, and a closing member is disposed to close the end of the through hole on the side of the outer surface of the housing.
 2. A compressor of claim 1, wherein the closing member is a seal bolt.
 3. A compressor of claim 1, wherein the closing member is a relief valve for discharging the coolant gas to the external environment when the pressure of the coolant gas discharged from the compressing mechanism exceeds a predetermined level. 